Le Grenouillard (Frog-Man) 1892

Jean-Joseph Carriès created "Le Grenouillard" or "Frog-Man" out of stoneware, and it now resides at the Art Institute of Chicago. Notice how the sculpture presents a grotesque figure, a hybrid of human and amphibian forms, rendered with meticulous detail. The composition is intriguing: the dominant figure, a man-like creature with bulging eyes and coarse features, is seated upon an enormous frog. His posture is tense, his expression guarded, and his arms encircle the frog, creating an impression of dominance. The frog, in turn, appears sturdy and stoic, forming a solid base for the composition. Carriès subverts traditional notions of beauty and the ideal form through this interplay of textures and shapes. The sculpture challenges our perceptions of the natural order and invites us to question the boundaries between species. Ultimately, this piece remains open to interpretation, allowing for a rich and varied understanding of the themes it presents.